Students Launch Organization to Support Nonprofits

Nicholas Chan ’19 and four other Moreau seniors recently launched a nonprofit organization – Project: Website (https://projectwebsite.org) – to provide other small nonprofits with free website development services.

Chan was inspired to launch his organization in his junior year when he helped a local nonprofit build its own website as part of his capstone project.

“During the process, I realized how many nonprofits face challenges in maintaining a strong online presence, given their limited budgets and small staff,” Chan said.

“A website helps them establish their online reputation, and helps further their mission. An aesthetically pleasing site builds a sense of trust among website visitors,” he added.

While Chan’s idea was launched a year ago, he soon realized that he needed additional help and asked his classmates to join his team. Each has a unique role, with Chan serving as executive director, overseeing the growth and development of the organization.

Bryce Wong, Clifford Vuong, and Christian Alejandro serve as project managers, working directly with the nonprofit organizations, recruiting volunteers, and ensuring that the site is completed on time. Mihir Sukthankar serves as director of development, helping to establish partnerships with technology companies.

Through Project: Website’s program, each nonprofit organization is connected to a skilled volunteer web developer or a group of developers. Each organization fills out an application and Chan’s team conducts a virtual interview to understand the nonprofit’s needs and to match them with a web developer whose interests align with the nonprofit’s mission. Over the course of 8 weeks, a new website is created, and once completed, launched.

“By facilitating the development of their online presence – a crucial first piece in a modern marketing puzzle – we allow nonprofits to focus on what they’re good at: making the world a better place,” their website says.

“Developers need to continue improving their skill, and our program enables them to improve their portfolio to become more marketable,” Chan said. “Simultaneously, we are helping out nonprofits to enable social change.”

Chan’s team is looking to build more partnerships with coding schools and corporations to improve their volunteer network and help more nonprofits.

Chan will continue running the organization after he graduates from Moreau. He is planning to study computer science and economics in college.